Episode 54 of the ongoing eruption of Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawai`i
Episode 54 of the ongoing eruption of Kilauea (Episode 1 began on 23 December 2024) commenced at 2030 UTC on 25 August 2026. 5-minute PACUS Sector GOES-18 (GOES-West) Shortwave Infrared images (above) showed the distinct hot thermal signature of lava fountaining from the Halema`uma`u crater, which persisted for about 9 hours.
As early as 2006 UTC on 25 August, the thermal signature exhibited a 3.9 µm brightness temperature of 137.88ºC (below) — which is the saturation temperature of GOES-18 ABI Band 7 detectors. This saturation temperature was intermittently seen until the eruption episode ended at 0533 UTC on 26 August.
GOES-18 Ash RGB and SO2 RGB images (below) displayed a prominent plume of SO2 from the Kilauea eruption, which drifted southward. The SO2 plumes appear similar in these two RGBs, since the 8.5 µm spectral band (which is sensitive to SO2 absorption) is used in the Green component of each RGB.
The National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement advising of potential ashfall downwind of Kilauea. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory estimated that the volcanic plume reached an altitude of 17000 feet — which, according to rawinsonde data from Hilo (below) was near the maximum altitude of northerly winds that were advecting the SO2 plume southward.
